Source: Browns fire senior national scout

Senior National Scout Pat Roberts, a key part of the Browns personnel department for eight seasons, has been fired, a league source confirmed Monday night.

Bruce Hooley of ESPN Cleveland reported the decision earlier in the day.

Roberts was hired by former general manager Phil Savage in 2005. He survived the takeover by Eric Mangini in 2009, and former GM Tom Heckert kept Roberts when he took over in 2010. But the current leadership of CEO Joe Banner and General Manager Mike Lombardi decided to make a change.

Roberts was a national scout for the last three seasons. He was the Director of College Scouting in 2009 and was a national scout from 2005-08.

Other members of the scouting department and player personnel department could experience similar fates in the coming days. It is normal for a new general manager and in the Browns' case, a new CEO, to hire scouts they are familiar with.

Jon Sandusky, the Browns' director of player personnel, and John Spytek, the director of college scouting, were hired by Heckert in 2010.

Most of the Browns' scouting staff, however, despite the constant change at the top, have been together at least four years. Area scout Don Beielschies has been with the Browns eight years. Area scout Zac Bocian, with the Browns 10 seasons, goes back to the Butch Davis days. Bob Welton just completed his ninth season with the Browns. Bobby Vega and Chisom Opara have each been with the Browns eight years as area scouts.